Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Sweet Romina’

ABSTRACT

‘Sweet Romina’ is a new and distinctive variety of  Spathiphyllum  plant which is characterized by an abundance of foliage with thick, light green petioles, relatively narrow ovate to elliptic foliage with moderately undulate leaf margins, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation. The new variety is typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Spathiphyllum sp. Schott.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Spathiphyllum disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘Sweet Romina’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2019/1331, filed Jul. 5, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The new cultivar is a seedling selection which resulted from the controlled pollination of the proprietary seed parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09064-2’ (not patented), and the proprietary pollen parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09061-53’ (not patented). Both parents are developed and owned by the inventor and were never commercially released. Said cross was performed by the inventor at a commercial greenhouse in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands during the late winter of 2015. After approximately one and a half years of evaluating the seedlings that resulted from said cross, the new cultivar was selected in the summer of 2016 due to its abundance of foliage and robust light green petioles. The new cultivar was given the breeder denomination ‘Sweet Romina’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘Sweet Romina’, by way of meristematic tissue culture, was first performed in 2017 at a commercial laboratory in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. Four successive generations so produced have shown that the unique features of the instant cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Sweet Romina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the instant environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Spathiphyllum cultivar ‘Sweet Romina’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘Sweet Romina’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Romina’ exhibits an abundance of foliage         born on light green petioles; and     -   2. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Romina’ exhibits relatively narrow ovate         to elliptic foliage with moderately undulate leaf margins; and     -   3. Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Romina’ exhibits strong, thick petioles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

FIG. 1 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage and growth characteristics of the new cultivar, ‘Sweet Romina’. The plant shown is approximately 12 months old from a rooted cutting, potted into a 17 cm nursery pot, grown in a climate-controlled greenhouse in Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands.

FIG. 2 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage of the plant in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical flower of the plant in FIG. 1 .

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in December of 2019 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old ‘Sweet Romina’ plants grown in 17 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Spathiphyllum which consisted of 5,000 to 8,000 lux of light, regular overhead irrigation, fertilizer applications at an Electrical Conductivity level of 2.3. No chemical pest and disease control measures were taken. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Sweet Romina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such measurements are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, Sixth Edition.

A botanical description of ‘Sweet Romina’ and comparisons with the parents and the most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Clump forming; broad spreading to upright with             foliage arising directly from the base of each clump.         -   Plant profile.—Broad obovate with inflorescences carried             within and slightly above the foliage.         -   Height.—63.8 cm in height, to the highest leaf; 65.5 cm to             top of highest spathe.         -   Width.—Average 67.5 cm in width.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately to highly vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Method — Meristematic tissue culture. Time to             initiate roots — Approximately 28 days to initiate roots at             approximately 21 degrees Centigrade. Crop time —             Approximately 30 weeks to produce a well-rooted 17 cm             container from a rooted cutting.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Moderately high tolerance to rain             and wind; tolerant of temperatures ranging from 5 to 40             degrees Celsius. Cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 10.         -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Plants have not been             observed to be any more or less susceptible or resistant to             pathogens and pests common to Spathiphyllum. -   Root system: Moderately fibrous, not fleshy; moderately dense. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching characteristics.—Clumping plant with leaves             emerging directly from the base of the plant; no lateral             branching. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; equitant.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Quantity of leaves per shoot.—Average of 5.         -   Quantity of shoots per plant.—Average of 8.         -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Approximately 40.         -   Lamina.—Shape — Ovate to elliptic. Apex — Apiculate. Base —             Attenuate. Aspect — Slightly carinate, slightly reflexed             with leaf tip curled downward at an average angle of             approximately 60 degrees to the balance of the laminar             surface. Attitude — Upright and slightly outward. Dimensions             — 38.5 cm long and 14.7 cm wide. Margin — Entire; moderately             coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, adaxial surface —             Smooth and glabrous; moderately glossy to glossy. Texture             and luster, abaxial surface — Smooth and glabrous; slightly             glossy to moderately glossy to glossy. Juvenile color,             adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143A. Juvenile             color, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and             yellow-green, RHS 143C and 144A. Mature color, adaxial             surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS             NN137A and N147A. Mature color, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B. Venation — Vein pattern —             Pinnate. Vein color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS             143A. Vein color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             a mixture of RHS 145A and 145B.         -   Petiole, excluding geniculum.—Length — Approximately             33.8 cm. Width — Approximately 0.55 cm at the geniculum and             1.2 cm at the base. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 145B and 145C. Color, abaxial             surface — Green, nearest to RHS 137C. Texture and luster —             Smooth, glabrous, and matte. Strength — Strong. Geniculum —             Length — Approximately 3.3 cm. Width — Approximately 0.6 cm.             Texture and Luster — Smooth, glabrous and matte. Color —             Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 138A and 138B. Petiole             wings — Length — Approximately 33.0 cm. Width —             Approximately 1.3 cm. Color, adaxial surface — Green,             nearest to RHS 138B. Color, abaxial surface — Nearest to in             between green and yellow-green, RHS 143C and 144A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Spathe.         -   Arrangement.—Peduncles arise directly from the base of the             plant with spathes carried at or slightly above the foliar             plane.         -   Attitude.—Near vertical.         -   Dimensions.—18.6 cm long, excluding the peduncle, and 6.6 cm             wide; spathe is 4.3 cm deep.         -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.         -   Quantity of spathes per plant.—On average 6 fully open             spathes, in good condition.         -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn into spring in the             Netherlands, with occasional flowering in summer.         -   Time to flowering.—24 weeks from planting.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant (typical Spathiphyllum             scent).         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers stay in good condition             approximately 3 weeks on the plant.         -   Peduncle.—Attitude — Near vertical. Length — 54.4 cm.             Diameter — 0.5 cm. Strength — Strong. Texture and luster —             Smooth, glabrous and matte. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to             a mixture of RHS 144B and 145A. -   Spathe:     -   -   Attitude.—Near vertical.         -   Aspect.—Slightly to moderately concave.         -   Length.—Approximately 18.6 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 6.6 cm.         -   Depth.—4.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.         -   Margin.—Entire; slightly coarsely undulate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Long attenuate.         -   Texture, inner and outer surfaces.—Glabrous, slightly             coriaceous.         -   Luster, inner and outer surfaces.—Inner surface is             moderately glossy; outer surface is glossy.         -   Color.—Inner surface, when opening — White, nearest to RHS             155C, and tipped yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A. Outer             surface, when opening — White, nearest to RHS NN155C, and             tipped yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A; main vein is             yellow-green, RHS 144C. Inner surface, at maturity — White,             nearest to RHS NN155D, and tipped yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 145A; main vein is green-white, nearest to RHS 157C.             Outer surface, at maturity — White, nearest to RHS NN155D,             and tipped yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A; main vein is             yellow-green, RHS 144C. Fading to — Not fading. -   Spadix:     -   -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 25 degrees to the peduncle.         -   Shape.—Oblong, columnar.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 6.2 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.25 cm.         -   Color.—When opening — Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160C.             Mature — Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D.         -   Flowers.—General — Flowers are greatly diminished, to the             point of being largely indistinguishable and immeasurable.             Quantity of flowers per spadix — Approximately 150.             Arrangement — Spirally placed on spadix. Shape — Rounded.             Diameter — Approximately 0.4 cm. Height — Approximately 0.2             cm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   General.—Reproductive organs are greatly diminished, to the             point of being largely indistinguishable and immeasurable.         -   Anthers.—Color — Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D.         -   Pollen, amount.—Moderately abundant to abundant.         -   Pollen color.—White, nearest to RHS 155A.         -   Stigma.—Quantity — 1. Shape — Conical. Dimensions — 0.2 cm             tall and 0.2 cm in diameter. Color — Greyed-yellow, nearest             to RHS 160D.         -   Ovary color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D. -   Seed and fruit: Seed production has not been observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Romina’ may be distinguished from the seed parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09064-2’ (not patented), by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Romina’ produces more foliage than ‘09064-2’.     -   2. ‘Sweet Romina’ exhibits thicker petioles than ‘09064-2’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Romina’ may be distinguished from the pollen parent, Spathiphyllum sp. ‘09061-53’ (not patented), by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Romina’ produces more foliage than ‘09061-53’.     -   2. ‘Sweet Romina’ exhibits thicker petioles than ‘09061-53’.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sweet Romina’ may be distinguished from the commercial variety Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Silvio’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,380) by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Sweet Romina’ produces more foliage than ‘Sweet Silvio’.     -   2. ‘Sweet Romina’ exhibits a taller plant height compared to         ‘Sweet Silvio’.     -   3. ‘Sweet Romina’ exhibits thicker petioles than ‘Sweet Silvio’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Sweet Romina’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 